Editorial: First steps toward a Rio Grande Trail

The first sections of what organizers hope will one day be a trail stretching along the Rio Grande from the Colorado border to the border with Mexico was dedicated recently in Albuquerque.

Through a directive by the governor's office, the first 23 miles of the trail have all been dedicated on state parks land, including the Mesilla Valley Bosque, Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, Leasburg Dam and Percha Dam.

The move comes following legislation this year to establish a commission that will seek to obtain voluntary land commitments along the river to link as much as possible into a single trail. That commission recently held its first meeting, under the leadership of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary David Martin.

"There is much work to be done, but with cooperation and support from our communities, this trail can become a lasting legacy for New Mexico," Martin said.

Gov. Susana Martinez said the Rio Grande Trail had "the potential to attract visitors from all around the world," and encouraged community leaders along the trail to work together for its completion.

The trail could potentially pass through 10 counties and 22 cities with a population of more than 5,000.

Given that participation in the trial is voluntary, it may take many years for its to be entirely contiguous, if it ever is. But the more sections we can connect, the more attractive the trail will be for both residents and visitors.

Martinez noted that more than half of the overnight visitors to New Mexico spent part of their trips engaging in outdoor activities.

Existing trails that run along the river, such as La Llorona River Park Trail in Las Cruces, will be incorporated into the larger Rio Grande Trail, said Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, who sponsored the legislation creating the trail.

"We're trying to get everyone who wants to be involved in this," Steinborn said. "Certainly there's diverse terrain in Doña Ana County for the people and the region to work out where the best trail route should be."

We encourage local officials and landowners with property along the river to look into connecting with the trail. For updates and more information on the trail, go to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources website www.emnrd.state.nm.us.